Heat actuated clip for holding cigarettes and the like



Jun 11, 1940. w, s RODENE 2203 745 HEAT ACTUATED CLIP FOR HOLDING CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1939 I INVENTOR.

alforcififiaaeiw,

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 11, 194.0

HEAT ACTUA'IED CLIP FOR HOLDING CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Walford S. Rodene, Oskaloosa, Iowa Application February 11, 1939,, Serial No. 255,836

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in heat actuated clips for holding cigarettes andthe like in an ashtray. Particularly, it relates to a clip Which, upon the application of heat, expands to drop a clasped cigar or cigarette into the tray.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 202,439, filed April 16, 1938, for a Cigarette tray.

It is common knowledge that rests for cigarettesancl cigars on ashtrays, stands and the like are inadequate in the event that the cigarette or cigar is permitted to burn down, for all too frequently the butt topples onto the floor and I burns the floor or floor covering. This inven- 5 tion is concernedwith providing a cigarette or cigar holding means which will normally hold the cigarette or cigar at a point close to the inhaling end and be composed of thermostatic metal, that is, a bimetallic clip, which upon 0 bacoo will expand and permit the cigarette or cigar to drop down into the ashtray.

One object of my invention is to provide in an ashtray an automatic release clip in association with each cigarette or cigar rest in such relationship that a user will utilize both the clip and the rest when using the tray.

The second object of this invention is to slope the cigarette rests associated with thethermm static clips at such an angle that insertion of a cigarette into the rest will result in the cigarettes being dropped into the tray before damage can be done.

The third object of this invention is to pro- 5 vide a cigarette holding clip which will expand from a clasping position upon the application of heat.

A further object of my invention is to associate several cigarette rests and clips in a single unit separate from a tray, so that the rest and clip units may be sold separately.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from reading the following specificationin the light of the accompanying drawing,

in which: i

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of the cigarette unit resting upon an ash tray in an ash stand;

Figure 2 is a sectional- View taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; i

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View of an ashtray employing two thermostatic holding clips; and

being contacted by theheat of the burning to-' Figure 5 is a sectional view of one gripping arm of a clip taken on the line 5=i of Figure 2.

Examining now the invention in detail, I0 is a smoking stand, 12 an ashtray, and M a trap in the floor of the ashtray. The cigarette holding unit, generally referred to as It, consists .of an annular ring l8,which, as shown, is a casting but which may equally well be a stamping.

Depending from annular ring It is collar 20.

Also shaped into unit it are supporting rim 22 and cigarette guides 24. The slope of the cigarette guides 24 may be seen in Figures 2 and 3, and is indicated by numeral 26. This slope angle may be varied widely.

The crux of this invention centers in the thermostatic clip 28, which consists of two strips of metal 3!! and 32 (see Figure 5} shaped to a U configuration having complemental gripping members 34 and 3'6. The coeiiicient of expansion of the metal 30 exceeds that of the metal 32. means of rivets 38. Where the base I6 is made of steel, spot welding may be used to effect the union of the thermostatic clip 28 to the rim 2. Attention is called to the fact that the diameter of a cigarette is slightly less than the diameter of the guides 24, whereas the arms of the U clip 28 in normal position are spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of a cigarette.

The action is quite apparent. The smoker inserts alighted cigarette into the open side of a guide 24, thereby spreading the gripping members 34 and 36 of the U clip 28, making certain that the lip end of, the cigarette is close to the top of the unit it. If the cigarette is not removed, it will burn as far astho clip. When the heat contacts the clip, the leaf 30 expands more rapidly than the leaf 32, which spreads the gripping members to and 36, thereby releasing, the cigarette, which, by gravity, drops The clip 28 is fastened to the rim 20 by into the tray. Upon removal of the heat, the m thermostatic clip 28 resumes its normal position. Should the user carelessly introduce a cigarette into a guide from above, not bothering to insert it correctly, the burning end will immediately contact althermostatic clip which will expand and permit the cigarette to drop into the ashtray. After one or two such experiences, the user of the tray will learn to insert the cigarette properly into the guide and the clip.

One of the features of my invention is in the use of the unit l6; As shown in Figures 2 and 3, this unit is fastened to the tray l2 by bolts Ml. But I do not look upon this invention as one which will be used solely for new ashtrays or ash stands. This unit I6 may be sold separately for use by the public on stands and trays already in use. For that reason, it is essential that a simple method of attaching the clips to the unit l6 be provided. This hasbeen accomplished by means of collar 20, which depends from the bottom of the unit I6. It is, of course, apparent that there is one clip for each guide and that the number of guides and clips may be varied.

In Figure 4, I show an adaptation of my expanding thermostatic clip to an ordinary ashtray. The clips are fixed by rivets near the upper rim of the ashtray. The clasping power of the clip 20 is sufiicient to hold a cigarette in any angular position and a guide or rest is unnecessary.

When my invention is used in conjunction with an ash stand having a trap, or an open drainpipe into an ash pit, a cigarette butt dropped by a clip will be extinguished by suffocation.

The entire theory of my thermostatic clip is to be contrasted with those uses of thermostatic metal on ashtrays which attempt to snuff out a cigar or cigarette which has burned to a certain point by contracting metal upon the butt. These devices have not been successful, because as they succeed in snufiing out the burning tobacco, the heat drops and they return to their normal position, and unless the fire is completely extinguished, it continues. My invention is based upon using the heat of the cigarette and the heat of the burning tobacco to expand the holding means, and the moment the holding means acts, the burning cigarette or cigar is dropped to a position of safety.

Other modifications and alterations may be made in the illustrated forms of the invention without departing from the true scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A heat actuated clip for holding cigarettes or the like comprising, in combination, complementary holding members spaced by a distance when cool sufficient to grip a cigarette or the like, said holding members being composed of a thermo-sensitive material which upon the application of heat will cause the holding members to spread apart whereby to release a held cigarette or the like.

2. A heat actuated clip for holding cigarettes or the like comprisingin combination, complementary holding members spaced by a distance when cool sufficient to grip acigarette or the like, said holding members being composed of a plurality of metallic leaves having diiferent coeificients of expansion with the leaves engaging the cigarette or the like having the higher coefficient of expansion whereby application of heat will cause the holding members to spread apart and release the cigarette or the like.

3. A heat actuated clip for holding cigarettes or the like comprising, in combination, a U-shaped member, and arms on the U-shaped member spaced by a distance such that a cigarette or the like may be held therebetween when the U-slraped member is cool, said U-shaped member being formed of a thermo-sensitive material which will cause said arms to spread outwardly upon the application of heat.

4. A heat actuated clip for holding cigarettes or the like comprising, in combination, a U-shaped member, and arms on the U-shaped member spaced by a distance such that a cigarette or the like may be held therebetween when the U-shaped member is cool, said arms of the U-shaped member being formed of a plurality of metallic leaves with the inner leaf which engages the cigarette or the like having the higher coefiicient of expansion whereby application of heat will cause the holding members to spread apart and release the cigarette or the like.

5. A multiple cigarette holder for an ash tray comprising, in combination, a ring member, a plurality of downwardly sloped guideways for cigarettes and the like on the inner side of said ring member and a heat actuated clip capable of holding a cigarette or the like when 0001 in association with each guideway, said clip being formed of a thermo-sensitive material capable of expanding to release the cigarette or the like upon application of heat.

6. A multiple cigarette holder for an ash tray comprising, in combination, a ring member, a plurality of downwardly sloped guideways for cigarettes and the like on the inner side of said ring member and a heat actuated U-shaped clip having arms spaced to hold a cigarette 01' the like when cool in association with each guideway, each clip being formed of a thermo-sensitive material which will cause said arms to spread outwardly upon the application of heat.

7. A multiple cigarette holder of the type set forth in claim 5 wherein the heat actuated clips are positioned beneath the guideways.

8. An ash tray of the character described comprising, in combination, a tray having a rim, and a heat actuated clip disposed on the tray inwardly of said rim, said heat actuated clip being composed of a material which will expand to release a cigarette held therein upon the'application of heat.

9. An ash tray of the character described comprising, in combination, a tray having a rim and a heat actuated clip disposed on the tray inwardly of said rim, said heat actuated clip comprising a U-shaped member formed of a plurality of metallic leaves wherein the inside leaf which engages the cigarette or the like has the higher coefficient of expansion whereby a held cigarette will be released upon the application of heat.

10. An ash tray of the character described comprising, in combination, a tray, a ring'member associated with said tray, a plurality of inclined guideways of a diameter slightly exceeding that of a conventional cigarette disposed on the inner side of said ring and a like plurality of heat expansible clips disposed beneath said guideways, one for each guideway, said clips having oppositely disposed holding members spaced by a distance sufiicient to hold a cigarette when cool and being made of a material whichupon the application of heat will cause the spaced holding members to spread outwardly so as to release a held cigarette which will drop into the tray.

WALFORD S. RODENE. 

